Desire is proactive: it’s about pursuing joy, curiosity, and fulfillment.
Retirement is often framed as the closing chapter of a career, but in truth, it is the opening of a new book entirely. It is a season where desire, once constrained by duty and necessity, can be savored with freedom and depth. To savor desire in retirement is to embrace life’s longings not with urgency, but with gratitude — to taste the sweetness of time, possibility, and renewal.
“In the end, there is no desire so deep as the simple desire for companionship.”
Graham Greene: Greene reminds us that companionship itself is the most enduring form of desire.
Desire does not vanish with age; it evolves. In youth, desire is fiery and impatient, pushing us toward achievement and recognition. In retirement, desire softens into curiosity, creativity, and connection. It becomes less about proving oneself and more about enjoying oneself. The desire to paint, to travel, to learn a language, or to nurture relationships is no less potent than youthful ambition — it is simply more seasoned, more deliberate, more profound.
“The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.”
Carl Jung
One of the greatest gifts of retirement is rediscovering play. Desire often manifests as creativity, as seen in activities such as writing memoirs, sculpting with clay, tending gardens, or exploring music. These pursuits are not trivial; they are expressions of prosperity in its most valid form. To savor desire here is to allow imagination to flourish without the constraints of deadlines or productivity metrics. Retirement is the time when creativity can be pursued for its own joy.
“The greatest legacy we can leave our children is happy memories.”
Og Mandino: Desire for love and connection becomes the most enduring inheritance.
Desire in retirement often turns outward. Many find themselves longing to give back. This desire is not about personal gain, but about legacy – about leaving behind something meaningful. Prosperity in retirement is in the richness of relationships and the impact of generosity. To savor desire is to recognize that fulfillment often comes from connection.
“Luxury will always be around, no matter what happens in the world.”
Carolina Herrera: Time itself, when desired and appreciated, becomes a timeless luxury
Perhaps the most profound shift in retirement is the abundance of time. Desire can now be savored slowly, like a fine wine. A sunrise can be watched without hurry, a book can be read without interruption, and conversations can linger without the pressure of schedules. This unhurried savoring transforms desire into presence — a prosperity of moments rather than possessions.
Retirement is not the extinguishing of desire but its transformation. To savor desire in retirement is to embrace life with an open mind, curiosity, and a sense of gratitude. It is to recognize that prosperity lies not only in wealth but in the fulfillment of longings — for creativity, connection, and joy. Retirement, then, is not a retreat from desire but an invitation to savor it more deeply, to live fully in the richness of time and possibility.
